Zoning & Planning Services

What are Zoning & Planning Services?

Zoning and planning services have typically been the domain of land use attorneys, but our technology-forward approach and our team’s diverse skillsets enable us to prepare zoning assessments and reports, obtain variations and special use permits, and rezone property more efficiently.

The problem

Zoning and planning services can be expensive and have unpredictable outcomes.

Solutions & services

Our suite of developer services have predictable fees and produce consistent reports and analysis. This set of zoning and planning services ensures that business and property owners become aware of past issues, present policies, and future demands and regulations.

Services include:

Variations & Special Uses

Zoning Report - Basic, for current zoning rules & regulations

Zoning Report - Plus, for potential zoning changes

Architectural & Entitlement Research

Rezoning

Services details

Variations & Special Uses

Variations and special uses are needed by homeowners and other building and property owners to make minor changes to property uses and layouts. Additionally, sometimes small business owners need a variation or special use before opening.

MAPS’s services include:

Obtain variations & special use permits from Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA), including for beauty salons and enlarged uses in Planned Manufacturing Districts (PMDs)

Provide expert report and testimony for projects that need to appear before the Zoning Board of Appeals

Help clients to apply for variations and special use permits sooner by bypassing zoning review in some cases

Zoning Report Basic

A Zoning Report Basic answers the question, “What am I allowed to do with this property?”

A concise and accurate report that details zoning rules and regulations for a property given its current zoning classification. The report also can also include details about parking requirements, and historical building or district status. Lenders and banks often require a zoning report to refinance a property.

Add-ons:

Incentives Checkup that shows potential eligibility for 18 location-based financial incentives for various kinds of development. See Incentives Checkup for more details.

Site Transportation Review to outline mobility options to and from the site, alternatives to driving and parking, and potential traffic and transit impacts.

Building Violations Review to show past and present building violations, including if any are still marked as “open”.

Zoning Report Plus - With rezoning recommendations

With Zoning Report Plus, MAPS will provide recommendations for zoning changes (rezoning) that are specific to your intentions or desires for the property. This report will describe what could be done with a future zoning classification, details the pattern of zoning changes in the area, and provides an assessment of the political landscape. Based on the project needs, MAPS can also explain sign rules, riverwalk requirements, and other applicable regulations.

Service additions:

Site Transportation Review to outline mobility options to and from the site, includes a discussion on how people may access the site, and potential traffic and transit impacts.

Incentives Checkup that shows potential eligibility for 18 location-based financial incentives for various kinds of development. See Incentives Checkup for more details.

Building Violations Review to show past and present building violations, including if any are still marked as “open”.

Architectural & Entitlement Research

MAPS has an expert research team who are adept at finding and obtaining historical information, including various kinds of records, building drawings, historical building uses and history, landmark preservation reports, and more.

Rezoning

MAPS can obtain a zoning change amendment (rezoning) for all kinds of cases where the client is looking to offer different uses, increase the allowable density, or change a building’s or property’s conformance.

Examples of other situations where zoning changes can be necessary:

Homeowners and other property owners who want to get their property out of non-conforming status

Restaurateurs and café owners who want to add an outdoor patio

Allow additional dwelling units on a lot

Include taverns or other uses as a permitted use in a commercial or retail building